I was trying to book Business from CBR to LHR return on Qantas and was finding their fares about $2K+ more than Emirates (after adding interal CBR connection) on the outgoing leg.
But the return leg with Qantas, using codeshare on Emirates, was in the ball park. So I thought I would try their Qantas Fare Watch service. Sure enough, a day later an email comes in with a fare close enough to the Emirates fare (plus internal connections from CBR).
The Fare Watch email has limited info in it but enough to figure out which airlines are being used - specifically the outbound leg was CBR, MEL, DXB, LHR. The email contains a "Book this Flight" button in the email - but when I clicked it, I was taken to the generic Qantas booking page (with my dates and itinerary ie CBR-LHR return Business preloaded) and there was no option that matched the price in the email and also never an option to go via DXB (ie via Emirates codeshare) on the outbound leg.
I looked at various options including multicity -to force the selection of Emirates - but still nothing at the price. So this was 10mins after the email - so I doubt that the "my" seat was sold in that timeframe.
Rang the call centre (2hr wait) and the poor call centre person couldn't find any flights at that price either, although they were able to come up with something that was $1k better than what I could, but still $1.5K more than my Emirates option. I changed my dates and tried "Fare Watch" again and a day later had the same thing happens (didn't bother with the call centre this time).
So I booked with Emirates and saved $2K+ per PAX - I was booking 2 tickets.
So my whinge / question: From the Fare Watch email when you click the "Book this Flight" - it should take you to THE flight with the price quoted not to the generic booking page with ones dates and itinerery pre loaded.
Is this normal for this button??
But the return leg with Qantas, using codeshare on Emirates, was in the ball park. So I thought I would try their Qantas Fare Watch service. Sure enough, a day later an email comes in with a fare close enough to the Emirates fare (plus internal connections from CBR).
The Fare Watch email has limited info in it but enough to figure out which airlines are being used - specifically the outbound leg was CBR, MEL, DXB, LHR. The email contains a "Book this Flight" button in the email - but when I clicked it, I was taken to the generic Qantas booking page (with my dates and itinerary ie CBR-LHR return Business preloaded) and there was no option that matched the price in the email and also never an option to go via DXB (ie via Emirates codeshare) on the outbound leg.
I looked at various options including multicity -to force the selection of Emirates - but still nothing at the price. So this was 10mins after the email - so I doubt that the "my" seat was sold in that timeframe.
Rang the call centre (2hr wait) and the poor call centre person couldn't find any flights at that price either, although they were able to come up with something that was $1k better than what I could, but still $1.5K more than my Emirates option. I changed my dates and tried "Fare Watch" again and a day later had the same thing happens (didn't bother with the call centre this time).
So I booked with Emirates and saved $2K+ per PAX - I was booking 2 tickets.
So my whinge / question: From the Fare Watch email when you click the "Book this Flight" - it should take you to THE flight with the price quoted not to the generic booking page with ones dates and itinerery pre loaded.
Is this normal for this button??
